Messenger No.
91 (March 1998)

ADS BibCode:1998Msngr..91....1GAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Giacconi, R.AA(Director General, ESO)Abstract:The evolution of ESO is briefly traced through its technical and managerial developments to today. Highlights of ESO activities in support of astronomical research by the member state community are given to emphasise the unique role of the Organisation in European astronomy, and the effectiveness with which it has carried out its mission, including the development of VLT/VLTI.

Telescopes and Instrumentation

ADS BibCode:1998Msngr..91....9MSection:Telescopes and InstrumentationAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Moorwood, A.; Cuby, J.-G.; Lidman, C.AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO)Abstract:SOFI, ESO's new 1 - 2.5 μm infrared imager/spectrometer, was installed at the NTT on La Silla in early December 1997 and saw first light as planned on the 6th. The acronym stands for Son OF ISAAC, the larger and more complex infrared instrument being built by ESO for the VLT. In addition to significantly enhancing the infrared observing capabilities on La Silla, SOFI has also provided valuable experience within the 'VLT environment' now existing at the upgraded NTT telescope.

ADS BibCode:1998Msngr..91...16CSection:Telescopes and InstrumentationAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Cuby, J.-G.; Gilmozzi, R.AA(ESO) AB(ESO)Abstract:At its meeting in Milan in October 1996, the STC recommended the procurement of 2 instruments for imaging and massive multi-object spectroscopy, VIMOS and NIRMOS, as conceptually designed by the VIRMOS consortium. The STC further recommended that ESO reduce the overall development time to ensure that these new instruments are competitive, with respect to e.g. DEIMOS on the Keck telescope and GMOS on the Gemini Telescope.

ADS BibCode:1998Msngr..91...21MSection:Telescopes and InstrumentationAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Mathys, G.AA(ESO)Abstract:The relatively quiet situation that had prevailed at the NTT since the return into operations (see the News from the NTT of The Messenger No. 90) has come to an abrupt end beginning of December. Since then, the NTT has been the scene of a quick succession of events, which will be reported below in chronological order of occurrence.

ADS BibCode:1998Msngr..91Q..24GSection:Telescopes and InstrumentationAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Gredel, R.; Leisy, P.AA(ESO) AB(ESO)Abstract:During three weeks of technical time in December 1997, EFOSC2 and the VLT autoguider were commissioned at the 3.6-m telescope. EFOSC2 is no longer offered at the 2.2-m telescope and replaces EFOSC1 on a permanent basis.

ADS BibCode:1998Msngr..91R..24GSection:Telescopes and InstrumentationAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Guisard, S.AA(ESO)Abstract:The bad behaviour of the lateral pneumatic support of the main mirror (M1) has already been put forward several times to explain the bad image quality of the telescope at large zenith distance. In order to check this assumption, several adjustments were done on the primary mirror support during the technical time last December. We decided to start by recentring the mirror axis on the rotator axis. This was done successfully and we found that the old position of the mirror was about 2 mm away from the rotator axis position. All the lateral pads supports were modified, and it is now possible to adjust them radially to match the new mirror position.

ADS BibCode:1998Msngr..91S..24GSection:Telescopes and InstrumentationAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Gredel, R.; Lidman, C.AA(ESO) AB(ESO)Abstract:The editors of the La SillaNews Page would like to welcome readers of the nineth edition of a page devoted to reporting on technical updates and observational achievements at La Silla. We would like this page to inform the astronomical community of changes made to telescopes, instruments, operations, and of instrumental performances that cannot be reported conveniently elsewhere. Contributions and inquiries to this page from the community are most welcome.

ADS BibCode:1998Msngr..91...25.Section:Telescopes and InstrumentationAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):ESOAA(ESO)Abstract:At a ceremony in Leiden, the Netherlands, on March 12, a contract was signed between Fokker Space B.V. and ESO for the delivery of the Delay Line of the VLTI.

The Large Southern Array

ADS BibCode:1998Msngr..91...26SSection:The Large Southern ArrayAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Shaver, P. A.; Booth, R. S.AA(1European Southern Observatory) AB(Onsala Space Observatory, Sweden)Abstract:There is great interest around the world in the possibility of a large millimetre and submillimetre wavelength array in the southern hemisphere. For Europe such a facility will be of particular importance because of the strong synergy with the VLT.

SEST Upgrades and Reports from SEST Observers

ADS BibCode:1998Msngr..91...28NSection:SEST Upgrades and Reports from SEST ObserversAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Nyman, L.-Å.; Tieftrunk, A.AA(SEST/ONSALA SPACE OBSERVATORY) AB(SEST/ESO)Abstract:The Swedish-ESO Submillimetre Telescope (SEST) has been in operation successfully for close to 10 years, the first scheduled observations having taken place in April 1988. It has served not only the Swedish-ESO community, but 10% of the Swedish observing time has been used by Finnish astronomers and, recently, Australia has signed an agreement with Sweden, also for 10% of Swedish observing time. The SEST receivers have been upgraded on a regular basis during the past decade, but the original control system is still in place. However, during the past couple of years an in-house project to replace this control system as well as the old computers has been in progress, while continuing normal observations. The project is being carried out by the SEST engineers with assistance from the staff at Onsala Space Observatory and will be completed during 1998. This article will describe the present instrumentation, the new control system and give a brief overview of the plans for the SEST during the coming years.

ADS BibCode:1998Msngr..91...54RSection:Science with the VLT/VLTIAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Rensin, A.AA(VLT Programme Scientist, ESO)Abstract:1999 will be the first year of the VLT scientific operations, yet this will not be the only novelty brought by the new year. In 1999 the flow of scientific data from the old La Silla Observatory will be several times higher than in 1998. Indeed, with the full dedication of the ESO/MPIA 2.2-m telescope to wide-field imaging, the ESO community will have for the first time an efficient survey instrument: the 8k ´ 8k camera covering a 0.54° ´ 0.54° field of view. In the meantime, the construction is about to start of a new 2.5-m telescope to be placed on Paranal by 2001, which will have a four times bigger field of view (and data flow rate). This sudden expansion of ESO widefield imaging and survey capabilities requires a major effort by both ESO and its community, in order to take full advantage of these new facilities that are primarily designed to support and foster the science to be done with the VLT.

ADS BibCode:1998Msngr..91R..58.Section:AnnouncementsAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):ESOAA(ESO)Abstract:ST-ECF and ESO are organising in collaboration with the NICMOS IDT and STScI a workshop on near infrared imaging from space and ground. The purpose of the workshop is to review what has been achieved with the Near Infrared and Multi Object Spectrograph (NICMOS) on board of HST, what can be achieved in the remaining lifetime of the instrument, and how NICMOS observations can be optimised taking into account the availability of IR imaging and spectroscopy on ESO’s Very large Telescope (VLT) in the near future. The meeting will be held in May 1998, about one year after science observations started with NICMOS, and about half a year before the Infrared Spectrometer and Array Camera (ISAAC) starts to operate on the VLT. Currently, it is expected that NICMOS will operate until the end of 1998.

ADS BibCode:1998Msngr..91S..58.Section:AnnouncementsAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):ESOAA(ESO)Abstract:The European Southern Observatory research student programme aims at providing the opportunities and the facilities to enhance the post-graduate programmes of ESO member-state universities by bringing young scientists into close contact with the instruments, activities, and people at one of the world’s foremost observatories.

ADS BibCode:1998Msngr..91R..59.Section:AnnouncementsAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):ESOAA(ESO)Abstract:Following the recommendation of the “HST and beyond” Report, NASA is investing a considerable effort in the definition of a large aperture (8 meter class) near IR space telescope (known as the Next Generation Space Telescope) to study the Universe at high redshift (5 < z < 30) and in particular the formation and evolution of galaxies at that early epoch. ESA has recently decided to join NASA in these preliminary studies in view of a possible future collaboration in the construction and operation of such an important astronomical facility. ESO is also supporting a European participation in NGST because of the scientific complementarity between VLT and NGST observing programmes.